5-day Instructor-led

After attending the course, participants will be able to,

• Fibre types and manufacturing methods
• Fibre optic theory and wave-guide functions
• The causes of attenuation, optical reflection and refraction
• Optical dispersion and pulse spreading issues
• Three basic elements of optical fibre systems and their uses
• Various cable types and proper installation methods
• Safe optical and physical work practices
• Design of various OSP topologies
• Single mode long distance system requirements
• Challenges for the designer and technicians
• Safe hand tool use
• Cable and fibre preparation techniques
• Closure assembly techniques
• Precision cleaver applications
• Fusion splicing operations
• Mechanical splicing operations
• Visual fault locator techniques
• OTDR basic operations, troubleshooting, and testing methods

This Hands-on course is designed to provide the Fibre Optic installers the knowledge of electronics and photonics concepts and principles, as well as acquire ‘hands-on’ skills which are then applied to all of the normal functions and procedures required to safely and completely install, maintain, and repair fibre optic cabling.

This Hands-on course is designed to provide the Fibre Optic Technician with the knowledge and ability to successfully terminate a variety of ST, SC, FC, and LC (SFF) connectors; perform fusion splicing, mechanical splicing, and assemble a splice enclosure. Students will perform cable preparation for fusion splicing and mechanical splicing. Students will be trained to test and troubleshoot optical fibre cables and optical fibre systems using OTDR.

Upon obtaining this basic knowledge and ‘hands-on’ skills, a CFOT-OSP will be able to enter employment in positions of the telecommunications industry where a dominance of the cabling system is installed and handled in an outside plant environment.

What is certification? Certifications measure competencies of persons, not products or companies. Certification means you have achieved certain performance criteria set by an International certifying entity, reflecting you have the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) to perform the duties as specified by the certification certificate. Certifications attest to your KSAs, and their value is the recognition of those KSAs to customers, co-workers and employers.

Telefocal certification training is not only reinforced with Hands-On Labs but our training is Non-Vendor specific providing an overall industry scope of the technology and not just a product. This provides companies a wider range of what equipment is being used in the industry.

Telefocal encourages students to bring their own equipment to implement into the labs, which brings value to the individual student by using his/her own equipment in Real-World Scenarios. Our instructors have years of experience with all types of gear and are there to help configure and/or set different options to make configuration and testing more effective for your specific applications. Telefocal is here to provide training as well as our "Real-World Experience" to make your personnel more productive and effective in their areas of responsibility.

At the end of the course delegates will gain well knowledge on how to install the fiber optics as well as assembling the fiber and finally they will be certified Fiber Optic Technician.

Prior experience with optic fiber, inclusive of field terminations of connectors or CFOI course.

Anyone who would be involved with designing, configuring, installing, testing, troubleshooting, or maintaining optical fiber systems; technicians, system analysts, design engineers, managers, telecommunications professionals, fusion splicers, mechanical splicers, end users, Contractors, craftsman, outside plant technicians, electricians

MODULE 1: OPTICAL FIBRE GENERAL STUDIES REVIEW

Introduction

• Common Industry terminology
• History of optical fibre
• Advantages – disadvantages of optical fibre
• Basics of a optical fibre communictions system
• Fibre types and manufacturing processes
• Typical transmission rates for voice, video, and data applications
• System topologies
• Optical fibre standards

Theory Topics

• Theory of light
• Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Total Internal Reflection
• Refraction
• Index of Refraction
• Light sources
• Wave Division Multiplexing
• Optical switching

Fiber Types

• Optical fibre types
• Typical fibre specifications
• Multi-mode optical fibres
• Single-mode optical fibres
• Modal Dispersion
• Chromatic Dispersion (CD)
• Polarisation Mode Dispersion (PMD)

Optical Fibre Types

• Optical Fibre colour codes
• Outside plant
  • Loose Tube Gel Filled
  • Loose Tube Dry
• Inside plant
  • Tight buffer distribution
  • Tight buffered breakout
• Jumper cables and Hybrids
• OSP cable locator

MODULE 2: OPTICAL FIBRE SAFETY ISSUES

Safety First

• LASER Safety and Warning Labels
• Types of LASERs
• LASER Output Levels
• Eye Safety Precautions
• Safe Glass Disposal Practices
• Food and drinks
• Proper person cleanliness
• Safe work surroundings
• Confined spaces issues

MODULE 3: OPTICAL FIBRE CABLE INSTALLATION

Proper Planning

• Project Considerations
• Cable pre-testing
• Cable reels identification and handling
• Proper cable pulling techniques
• Outdoor cable design characteristics
• Direct bury cable installation
• Directional boring methods
• Underground installation (Manhole/Hand Hole/Conduit)
• Cable pulling specifications
• Tensile strength and bend radius
• Avoiding installation obstacles
• Grounding and Bonding optical fibre cables
• Identifying cable types
• Work Area protection issues

Selecting the right OSP cable

• Optical fibre construction
• Selecting the right fibre
• Optical fibre distribution hardware (enclosures, ODF, etc.)

HANDS-ON LABS:

Safety Meeting

Lab # 1: Connectorisation and Testing Lab

• Lecture: Identification of optical fibre connectors
  • ST
  • SC
  • FC
  • LC
  • PC
  • UPC
  • APC
• Hands On: Field termination – Polished
  • Epoxy
  • HotMelt
  • Anaerobic
  • Crimp
• Hands On: Field termination – Pre-Polished
  • Corning
  • Siemens
  • Other
• Hands On: Testing using OLTS

Lab # 2: Introduction to Mechanical Splicing

• Lecture
  • Types of mechanical splices
  • Testing mechanical splices
• Hands On:
  • Demonstrate various mechanical splices
  • Students perform various mechanical splices
  • Test mechanical splices

Lab # 3: Introduction to Fusion Splicing

• Lecture
  • Types of fusion splicer
  • Profile alignment system (PAS) splicer
  • Fixed V-Groove splicer
  • Mass fusion spl icer (Ribbon)
  • New Generation mini-splicer (Fully Automated)
  • Types of splice enclosures
  • Wall mount enclosures
  • Rack mount enclosures
  • Splice Trays
  • Splice Shelf
  • Aerial Enclosure
  • Pedestals
  • Underground
• Hands On:
  • Operation of fusion splicer
  • Prepare cables for splicing inside a splice enclosure
  • Assemble splice enclosure

Lab #4 : Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR)

• Lecture
  • OTDR Theory
  • OTDR Usage
  • Scattering, Reflections, and Absorption
  • OTDR Measurements
  • OTDR Events (Reflective & Non-reflective)
  • Deadzones (Event & Attenuation)
  • Gainers and Losers
  • Resolution
  • Trace Basics
  • Troubleshooting
  • LSA
• Hands ON
  • Demonstration of OTDR operation
  • Students operate OTDR
  • Using the OTDR
  • Troubleshooting techniques
  • Use OTDR to locate faults

Lab # 5: Commissioning Optical Fibre Cable

Optical Loss and Test Sets (OLTS)

Equipment Used:

Telefocal uses state-of-the-art fibre optic equipment and supplies in all its courses. Our courses are technology based, which gives us the flexibility to select the best equipment and supplies available. You can learn using our equipment or you can bring your own equipment and learn how to use it more effectively.

Equipment used

• Connector curing ovens
• Variety of connector types
• Anaerobic epoxies
• Polishing plates and films
• Polishing and cleaving tools
• Variety of fusion and mechanical splicers
• Variety of fusion and mechanical splice protectors
• Variety of singlemode cable types
• Optical loss testing equipment
• Variety of optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDRs)
• Variety of light sources
• Talk sets
• Variety of jumpers
• Safety equipment
• MSDS

Another advantage of technology-based training is that class time is spent teaching and not selling. You learn the theory, operation and application of various tools and equipment.

Course material and techniques are based on the ITU, TIA/EIA, IEEE and ANSI standards. This allows you to understand and effectively use any manufacturer’s equipment or product designed to conform to these widely accepted standards.

CERTIFICATION

At the completion of this course, students will be administered a written exam and a practical exam. If pass the written exam with at least a 75% or higher and passes the practical exam with an 80% or higher, the student will receive their CFOI certificate. Telefocal will maintain a master database of the students and where requested by student we will verify fibre certification to third parties.

Re-certification Requirements

With the rapid changes in technology and products within the optical fibre industry, CFOI certification must be renewed every two years, thus demonstrating that as a certified optical fibre technician is keeping up with current technology and enhancing their abilities and knowledge. Re-certification entails that technicians must:

• Show proof of having at least twenty-four hours of continuing education credits each year; or,
• Written documentation from Employer reflecting the number of connectors, splices, and fibre strands tested during the past two years (technician logs are recommended). A minimum of 600 connectors, splices, and test are required per year for renewal; and,
• Attend a 4 hour refresher course and pass a 75-question test.